‘What was Senior Brother doing before? Why does he seem so tired? He barely spoke to me.’

On the small path to the card room, Ling’e held an empty jade tray, flying close to the ground on her cloud, her slightly puffed cheeks showing a hint of dissatisfaction.

In the card room, Xiong Lingli was ‘simulating immortal life’ with Elder Sister Chaos Bell, with numerous items for two people to play with arranged on the side.

Just as Ling’e drew near, Bell Spirit let out a snicker.

“Why are you back so soon?”

“Senior Brother needs rest, ah…”

Ling’e let out a soft sigh, only then remembering to put away the tray. She sat listlessly at the low table, tucking both her small hands under the table’s curtain, pressing her little face against the table surface made of warm jade.

Ding~ Your brother’s value balance is insufficient.

Bell Spirit smiled and shook the wooden box in her hand, saying casually: “Didn’t I tell you to be more proactive, help your Senior Brother take a bath or something?

You don’t know how to coax men.”

“Hmph!”

Ling’e rolled her eyes, tossing her head to look in another direction, her carefully arranged hair bun gently shaking.

“Senior Brother and I aren’t like what you’re thinking.”

Bell Spirit’s eyes immediately curved in amusement, while Xiong Lingli beside her made a little grimace, wearing a knowing expression.

Bell Spirit said: “E, your Senior Brother must indeed be tired, after all, his previous outing was to contend with a Sage, though I don’t know what he went out for before that.”

“A Sage?” Ling’e immediately became tense.

“Was killed by your Senior Brother and Zhao Gongming working together.”

Ling’e instantly relaxed, then wilted again on the low table.

Today’s E was completely lacking in spirit.

“What kind of reaction is that?” Bell Spirit was utterly puzzled, “Although my tone is casual, this is a major event in the primordial world! The Six Sages have become Five Sages!”

Ling’e: “Wow, so amazing… I’m just glad Senior Brother is fine.”

Bell Spirit rolled her eyes in exasperation, “You really should go out more often. All day it’s Senior Brother this, Senior Brother that. There’s still a long life ahead, don’t you find it monotonous?”

“Hee hee hee.”

Ling’e squinted and laughed softly, then suddenly thought of something and glared at Bell Spirit: “But Bell Sister, didn’t Senior Brother swear not to use you? Why did you go along?”

“He didn’t use me,” Bell Spirit Chaos Bell snorted, “I went there on my own, didn’t touch a bit of your Senior Brother’s magical power.

What’s wrong with wanting to oppose the Western Teaching’s Sages because I don’t like them?

I find Zhao Gongming and Jin Ling agreeable, so I happened to stop above their heads a few times, helped block some attacks, and passed along some fire – what can Heaven’s Way do about it?

Hmm?”

Ling’e: …

Senior Brother’s various additional clauses regarding Heaven’s Way oaths were indeed far-sighted and quite necessary.

Mm, wedding vows should also be drafted, make it thirty thousand words!

“However,” Bell Spirit’s expression became somewhat solemn, “don’t wander around later, just stay on Little Jade Peak, it’ll be convenient for me to help you escape when needed.

In the current heaven and earth, the Five Sages have completely lost their restraint on Heaven’s Way. Although your Senior Brother has some trump cards that no one can understand, he ultimately can’t withstand Heaven’s Way.

Heaven’s Way is merely wary of him, not afraid.”

Ling’e immediately became serious, pinching her little chin in thought for a moment before saying softly: “Actually, there’s something I’ve never been able to figure out. Isn’t Heaven’s Way able to calculate infinitely?

Why has it allowed Senior Brother to cultivate to this level, never suppressing him or arranging some disasters for him in advance?”

“How would I know?”

Bell Spirit thought carefully, then thought carefully again, glancing toward the elixir chamber.

“I investigated this matter. When at Little Jade Peak, I took some time to look ahead, and I discovered…

Your Senior Brother doesn’t even leave his door!

What disasters could he possibly have?

Would Heaven’s Way, without asking anything, directly strike the strongest Sage’s little disciple?

Now I can barely tell which is his true body and which are his paper avatars. If one day he suddenly flips the table and shouts ‘Little Jade Peak transform,’ I wouldn’t be surprised at all.”

Ling’e’s beautiful eyes widened: “Bell Sister, you could see all that? When Senior Brother last modified Little Jade Peak, he obscured the heavenly mechanisms!”

“Hmm?” Bell Spirit tilted her head.

Ling’e furrowed her delicate brows, feeling she might have said a bit too much, nervously pressed her forehead against the table surface, pretending to fall asleep.

Before the elixir chamber, Li Changshou’s mouth showed a slight smile, not paying much attention to the playful banter between the immortal women and the female treasure.

At this moment, he didn’t want to think too much about anything, only trying his best to let his thoughts drift, immersing himself in this heaven and earth, feeling the interplay of the Great Daos.

Humming a light tune at his lips, Li Changshou tried to relax himself, not to be too tense.

Work and rest should be balanced.

Although he was step by step approaching a life-or-death juncture, he still had some confidence.

At this time, that seventy percent referred to the odds of victory, not the probability of survival.

If the latter hadn’t first reached ninety-eight percent, Li Changshou wouldn’t have considered matters of attacking Heaven.

Whatever one wants to accomplish, first ensure one’s survival – this is the essence of the Stable Teaching.

…

Buzz—

A mosquito’s hum floated past Spirit Mountain, which had lost most of its peak, and before a cave-dwelling wrapped in layers of light halfway up the mountain, Wen Jing manifested her form.

Looking at Daoist Wen Jing now, her red dress was interwoven with golden threads, and her originally quite alluring face now carried several more traces of sanctity due to the golden dot on her forehead.

She raised her hand, gently swaying her thin wide sleeves, and the two primordial fierce beasts who had transformed into human form before the cave-dwelling immediately came forward and bowed.

“Great Commander, you’ve returned…”

“What Great Commander! Address me as First Vice Patriarch!”

Wen Jing lightly furrowed her brows, glanced at these two figures, let out a light snort, and walked inside slowly.

“Have you accomplished everything I assigned to you?”

“Done, done,” these two fierce beast experts answered respectfully, their left faces written with fawning, their right faces written with flattery.

Wen Jing nodded and said calmly:

“Return to your cave dwellings to cultivate, I’ll record this merit for you.

Remember, our Western Teaching is currently in a period of lying low. Besides what I’ve assigned you, don’t do more, don’t harm even half a mortal.

Just wait for the right moment, our Western Teaching will have its chance to rise.”

The two fierce beasts clasped their hands in salute with coordinated movements, saying in unison: “Heaven’s Way cycles, the West shall greatly rise!”

“Go then.”

“Yes!”

These two fierce beasts transformed into streams of light and quickly disappeared at the foot of Spirit Mountain. Daoist Wen Jing let out a light snort and stepped into the cave-dwelling entrance.

After closing the layers of grand formations, Wen Jing could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

With a wave of her hand, her thin dress flew toward the clothes rack, and while the air wasn’t paying attention, she had already entered the spirit spring pool, comfortably lying in the water.

Mosquito habits, mosquito habits.

“Ah…”

She was only one obstacle – Sage Jieyin – away from being Western Teaching’s number one!

Had the Star Lord forgotten about her?

Was it because she went to the Sea God Temple too infrequently, or was her waist not slim enough? Could it be that choosing to be the first consort meant she was destined to be abandoned by the second consort?

At least tell her what she should do!

Even if it was to ambush a Sage, shouldn’t they give her some definite information?

Previously, Wen Jing thought her mission was to pass information to the Sea God;

But she was reprimanded by the Sea God, who hinted she had a more important mission.

Wen Jing felt very excited, not only because she had joined the Human Teaching and grabbed hold of the strongest Sage in heaven and earth’s toe, but also because of a sense of pride that ‘someone finally recognized her talent.’

Later, Wen Jing thought her mission should be to backstab certain disciples of the Western Teaching at a crucial moment;

But the Western Teaching was tricked by the Water God and crippled, first having their mountain gate smashed several times, breaking the myth of the Sages’ face, then being directly annihilated by half by the Severing Teaching immortals, leaving only ruins and the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

Wen Jing felt very panicked then because her only remaining mission was to ambush the Sages at a crucial moment.

But now, the Sage was dead!

What exactly did the Human Teaching want this Queen to do?

Could it be like this…

[‘Changgeng, plant a hidden piece in the Western Teaching, use it at a crucial moment.’

‘Yes, Master, but specifically what crucial moment should it be used for?’

‘That would be the very crucial moment to use it.’]

“Puh! Cough, cough cough!”

Daoist Wen Jing covered her chest and coughed repeatedly.

Couldn’t they just give her a straight answer?

Get it done early and escape early, go find her first consort, and ask shyly:

‘Elder Brother Xuandu, am I… perhaps coming at a bad time?’

Then wait for that response: ‘How could it be? You’ve come at just the right time.’

“Hehe,” Daoist Wen Jing turned over to sit in the pool, squinting and smiling continuously.

However, she really should consider what mission Star-Lord had originally assigned her at the very beginning.

Wen Jing had a vague premonition that she wasn’t just a simple important link in some event. Star-Lord keeping her as an unused chess piece all this time likely meant he had plans even more terrifying than killing a Sage.

Perhaps it was even… was… was…

Never mind, she couldn’t figure it out. This was beyond the scope of her understanding.

Rather than thinking like this, she might as well go ask Star Lord directly.

The Western Teaching’s two Sages being slain had turned the already gloomy Spirit Mountain into a place of utter mourning.

Spirit Mountain’s disciples were even unwilling to leave their cultivation grounds. Some of those experts who had fled back from the Three Thousand Worlds had already made excuses to go out for tempering, with no plans to return.

Originally the fourth great teaching in heaven and earth, Spirit Mountain now… was still the fourth great teaching.

But it was completely different from before.

Especially when the Great Sage returned this time and immediately called her over for instructions. The sense of dejection, powerlessness, and desolation in the Great Sage’s eyes was shocking to behold.

The Great Sage had entrusted all of Spirit Mountain’s coordination and operation matters to her, the First Vice Patriarch.

If she operated secretly, it would be easy to make the Western Teaching fall apart, like monkeys scattering when the tree falls.

‘It seems I need to have a good talk with the second consort.’

Wen Jing carefully pondered in her heart, then sat cross-legged in meditation in the pool, extremely vigilantly sensing all changes around her. Using her divine abilities, she controlled a blood mosquito to float toward the rear hall of the Sea God Temple in the Safe Water City of the South Sea.

The real old place.

That blood mosquito entered the area covered by the Taiji diagram’s Dao rhythm, transforming into a delicate young woman wearing an emerald green gauze dress, gracefully entering.

Li Changshou’s voice transmission reached her ear, and a paper avatar floated out from beside Sage’s brushes and ink in the rear hall, transforming into a young Daoist sitting in the circular chair.

“What matter?”

Daoist Wen Jing stepped forward with lotus steps, saying softly: “This servant pays respects to Star-Lord. There are no other major matters, just coming specially to congratulate my lord on avenging your grudge and establishing an eternal reputation.”

Li Changshou slightly furrowed his brows, seeming somewhat displeased, saying: “Just for this matter?

Now is precisely the moment when you must lie low with a calm heart. If you show half a flaw, all previous efforts will be wasted – too late for regrets!”

Daoist Wen Jing’s dao heart trembled slightly. Not daring to say more, she just lowered her head in a bow, explaining:

“Please don’t blame me, my lord. This subordinate’s heart is truly anxious, not knowing how to conduct herself, and so came seeking my lord’s guidance.

My lord!

You… you just tell this subordinate exactly what she must do!

You’ve already slain that Sixth Sage and this subordinate now oversees all Western Teaching affairs, with internal and external matters all requiring this subordinate’s handling. I truly don’t know how to continue lying low!

This subordinate is really… lost.”

Li Changshou: …

Alright, the timing was about right.

In case the situation develops along his calculated third to twelfth possibilities, he did need to tell Daoist Wen Jing in advance when to act and exactly what to do.

Li Changshou said slowly: “Wen Jing, you’ve worked hard these years.”

Daoist Wen Jing’s body couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Why did these words sound somewhat like she was about to be disposed of?

Then she heard Li Changshou speaking warmly:

“I know how hard it’s been for you to endure all these years, but the timing truly hasn’t arrived, and you are crucial.”

Li Changshou summoned the Taiji diagram, enveloping Daoist Wen Jing within it.

“Wen Jing, I trust you, and not because you’ve sworn Heaven’s Way oaths or because I have some leverage to trust you with.

In my heart, I no longer consider you an outsider. You also know that my master, Great Clarity Sage, has already approved your matter with my Senior Brother.

Of course, my Senior Brother isn’t specifically clear about this right now, but that’s not important.

What Human Teaching needs you to do is something of great significance and far-reaching influence. This isn’t as simple as whether to slay a Sage or not, but rather a game of teachings, ideologies, and the Great Dao.

Do you know that since ancient times there has been a saying that the West must greatly prosper?”

Daoist Wen Jing’s eyes were full of light as she said softly: “Thank you for your trust, my lord. This subordinate naturally knows.”

Her heart was going crazy.

‘Hmph! Western Teaching is already devastated, and I’m not stupid enough not to stick with Human Teaching till the end. That’s why you dare tell all this to this Queen!

The Human Teaching’s hearts are all black!

Though, tsk tsk, so is this Queen’s.’

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Don’t ramble in your heart.”

Wen Jing was shocked and rigid, lowering her head and closing her eyes, repeatedly apologizing.

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched slightly – he had guessed correctly.

This Wen Jing’s inner monologue was always quite something.

Li Changshou said slowly: “Previously, the Severing Teaching destroying ninety percent of the Western Teaching’s strength matched Heaven’s Way’s expectations for tempering the Western Teaching. The rule Heaven’s Way follows is ‘to bestow great responsibility, first bear its weight.’

Western Teaching still has a chance for revival later. This relates to Heaven’s Way and the West, a calculation that began in ancient times.

I am tasked with breaking this situation.

Wen Jing, what I need you to do is very simple.

Just when you hear the news that in the South Jambu Continent, the Human Sovereign has collapsed the Enlightened-Severing battle has begun, and the Western Teaching’s Great Sage is going out, you just ask forward one question – if he’s going to assist the Enlightened Teaching.

If the Great Sage answers you or says yes, you find your way to deal with it, wishing him a smooth journey or something similar.

At this time, you’ll need to calculate the timing precisely. When the Great Sage cannot move away, go find that Western Teaching’s foundation-establishing Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus…”

Daoist Wen Jing couldn’t help but hold her breath, listening to those few words from Li Changshou’s mouth:

“Destroy it.”

Daoist Wen Jing stood dazed in place but soon breathed a sigh of relief.

“Just that?”

“Mm, just that.”

“Then why didn’t you say so earlier,” Daoist Wen Jing said softly, “Before, this subordinate was already responsible for guarding the Golden Lotus, even having to wipe its petals and offer daily incense and such.”

Li Changshou: …

“Ahem, mainly it’s about timing. I naturally believe you have the power to approach the Golden Lotus.

Timing is very important. You must catch that future moment when the Great Sage goes out. I calculate that he will use his divine banner to receive many Severing Teaching disciples during the great battle, bringing them into his Western Teaching.

This is the foundation of their great prosperity.

Catch this key point and make their Golden Lotus collapse.

The predicament the Severing Teaching faced before, their Western Teaching must face once again. Then Master’s and my calculations will be easier to implement.

Do you understand?”

“Mm, mm!”

Daoist Wen Jing’s face bloomed like a flower, “If you had said so earlier, this subordinate’s heart would have been much more at ease.”

“This matter is extremely important. When the time comes, I will naturally ensure your safety,” Li Changshou said, “But this secret, even if you were to perish before then, must not be revealed.

If we let the Great Sage wear the Golden Lotus, then I can only find a way to slay a Sage once more.”

Wen Jing’s smile instantly froze. She lowered her head in acknowledgment, her form dissolving into a handful of blood sand.

Li Changshou sat there pondering for a while, his form entering the earth.

Indeed, when one’s strength increases, one’s words naturally become harder.

That Golden Lotus would actually be not bad to take… but never mind, to be safe, just destroy it directly. Have the mosquito drink a few more mouthfuls then, turning it into a damaged fourth-grade primordial spiritual treasure – symmetry has beauty, after all.

The Western Teaching has committed so many evil acts, bewitching the human race, yet still wants to suppress first then rise, temper first then prosper?